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Environmental detection of soybean rust spores

Asian soybean rust is a major soybean disease which can cause premature defoliation, early maturity, low seed weight, few pod and seed production [1]. Early detection prior to visible symptoms may be critical for timing fungicide applications. In this project, we collaborate with Prof. Glen L. Hartman of the department of crop sciences at UIUC trying to detect soybean rust spores using label-free photonic crystal biosensors. The detection system enables imaging of the spores attached to the sensor surface without the use of fluorescent labels or stains. This study may represent the first use of photonic crystal biosensors for detection of rust spores and may be the first step in reaching the goal towards developing an economical and field deployable detection system. Funding for this project is provided by Soybean Disease Biotechnology Center and Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research.

An image of spores/spores clusters on photonic crystal biosensor surface. Attachment of the spores to the sensor surface results in a highly localized increase of the resonant peak wavelength value (PWV) shown as red in color.